New Hotline at UT to Connect Former Foster Kids to Post-Foster Resources

Originally published by KXAN.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing at the University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work will launch a centralized hotline connecting youth who have aged out of foster care to workforce resources, educational opportunities and other support for transitioning to adulthood, according to a press release from UT.

The Texas Foster Youth Network (TFYN) will be funded by a $4 million grant from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).

“We are committed to ensuring former foster youth have the resources they need to thrive in their careers,” said Alberto Treviño III, TWC commissioner representing labor, in a statement. “The Texas Foster Youth Network provides a centralized location for those resources, offering crucial support and building confidence as they transition into the workforce. This initiative will help them realize their professional aspirations right here in Texas.”

TFYN will operate a call center run by former foster youth who will handle inquires and case management. Former foster youth will co-lead planning for the program with the goal to connect other former foster youth to resources and support for how to use those resources.

“If you think about the first time you had to make a medical appointment or deal with a government bureaucracy on your own, it was probably a bit more complicated than you expected,” said Tym Belseth, a former foster youth and now program coordinator at the School of Social Work. “It can be very discouraging for youth to receive a list of resources and have to call a random person, tell their stories and then be told to go somewhere else for help or fill out a different paper. Our hope is to help walk them through those processes, so they learn not to give up.”

UT said it will hire young adults experienced with the foster care system to guide analysis and develop operation policies during the first year.